[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 16, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 16, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT NCAA BASKETBALL

  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, it has been a tough winter of 1994 in 
the State of Connecticut. The weather has been brutal, too much snow, 
too much cold. The economy continues not to show as much strength and 
recovery as we would like, with too many people still out of work.
  Mr. President, in the midst of this very difficult winter of 1994, 
the good Lord has sent the people of Connecticut reason for hope and 
something to cheer, and I speak of the UCONN Huskies basketball teams. 
The University of Connecticut women's basketball team is ranked No. 3 
in the Nation, and the men's team is ranked No. 4. In the minds and 
hearts of the people of Connecticut, Mr. President, as you can imagine, 
these teams are No. 1.
  They turned in exemplary performances during the regular season and 
are now poised to begin pursuing national championships in their 
respective NCAA tournaments. The women's team begins playing Brown 
tonight in Storrs, CT. The men's team plays tomorrow at the Nassau 
Coliseum against Rider.
  So the late winter blues have been replaced in Connecticut by the 
blue-and-white colors of Huskymania. The UCONN men's team compiled a 
27-4 winning record, and the women's team went 27-2. Without a doubt--
and I will not require the Presiding Officer to nod or show approval of 
the statement I am about to make--in my mind, the State of Connecticut 
has the best one-two basketball combination of any State in the 
country.
  The men's team, in fact, began the season unranked. Yet, they rose 
quickly, attaining a position of No. 2 in the country at one point. 
Longstanding records fell in the wake of this powerful team as the 
regular season drew to a close: They won 16 Big East games. Our great 
forward Donyell Marshall captured the single-season Big East scoring 
mark. And the Huskies won the conference by three games, more than any 
previous Big East champion.
  The Huskies also swept the major Big East awards. Coach Jim Calhoun, 
who is an inspiration as a leader, was voted Big East Coach of the Year 
and is in serious contention for National Coach of the Year, and he 
should win it. Doron Sheffer was named Rookie of the Year. All-American 
Donyell Marshall took home awards for Player of the Year and Defensive 
Player of the Year and is currently in contention for the Wooden Award 
and Naismith Award, which goes to the top male player in college 
basketball. He was also selected for the First Team by the U.S. 
Basketball Writers Association and, this morning, the Associated Press 
First Team All-American Team.
  The UCONN women's basketball team was ranked No. 3 in the final 
women's top AP poll.
  Led by coach Jeno Auriemma and Big East player of the year, Rebecca 
Lobo, the champion Huskies parlayed a record of 27 and 2 with no 
losses, no losses at home, and a No. 1 seed in the east region and in 
the NCAA tournament.
  For the sixth year in a row, the Connecticut women's team earned a 
birth in the championship tournament, and riding a crest of 18 
consecutive victories, they are favorites to bring home a national 
championship.
  Mr. President, these two teams, as so often happened with sports 
teams, united Connecticut like few events in recent history in our 
``land of steady habits.'' Watching the Huskies has become a steady 
habit we hope we never break.
  I wanted today to rise on the floor of the Senate as these two teams 
begin their participation in the NCAA tournament, hoping that they will 
both bring home national championships, but regardless of the outcome 
saying to each and every member of this team and coaches: Thanks for 
the season you have given us, congratulations on the skills and grace 
and accomplishment that you have shown, and thanks to those loyal fans 
of the Huskies who cheered them along every step of the way.
  Mr. President, I conclude by simply echoing in this great Chamber the 
words that now rise mysteriously but thunderously from the State of 
Connecticut and its 3.4 million citizens, ``Go, UCONN Huskies.''
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kentucky.
  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I congratulate the junior Senator from 
Connecticut.
  They finally found out that about basketball all these years, but 
somehow the last weekend a team from the State of Kentucky beat the No. 
1 team in the Nation, won the southern conference and is the No. 3 seed 
in the NCAA tournament. The University of Louisville with Danny Crump 
won the Metro Conference. In western Kentucky, one small school down in 
far west Kentucky will be in the Gang of 64.
  So I just want to congratulate the Senator from Connecticut and say 
that we hope that he goes far but not quite as far as he wants, and I 
think the cap will probably look better at the gymnasium than it would 
on the Senate floor?
  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Kentucky for 
his kind words. We say to him we look forward to seeing him in Kentucky 
at the final four in Charlotte.
  I thank the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona.

                          ____________________